SportStories - The Podcast
Hello everyone! My name is Nathan Merkel, welcome to SportStories - The Podcast. This Sports catered podcast will discuss different stories that we as humans have experience in, with, and through Sports. Hopefully, providing context to these questions: What makes Sports so special? and How do Sports impact us as humans? I will dive head-first into these questions through critical conversations with a wide variety of guests on the show. With my current background in research and academia, I will be looking to bridge the gap between practicality and research. I truly hope you enjoy the show!
Episodes
14 episodes
Stories of Relocation - Conversation about the Chiefs and Bears Relocating
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Hey everyone! I begin this episode by sharing my story through Sport and how it has shaped me. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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42:45
Stories of a Second Chance - A Conversation with Teacher of the Year Darrion Cockrell
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Coach Darrion Cockrell (better known as DC) was born to a mother who struggled with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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55:13
The Story of Sports Data Analytics - A conversation with Neil Schwartz
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Are you familiar with the story of Billy Bean? Maybe you've heard of the movie, Money Ball. Wit...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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52:48
Stories of a Life Coach - A Conversation with Elissa Grabow
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.] I wonder what athletes go through off the field..? How do they manage their life while al...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:03:13
Introduction to SportStories - The Podcast
Hi everyone! Welcome to SportStories - The Podcast, my name is Nathan Merkel. Have you ever wondered why people love sports so much? How do people fall in love with teams, brands, and/or athletes so quickly and heavily? What does this do us as ...
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Season 1
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1:56
Rolling for Gold - A discussion about Collegiate and Professional Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball with Coach Ron Lykins
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]The Paris Paralympics, saw an 70% increase in viewership from 2020 to 2024. In total...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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53:32
From Bleachers to Brand - Navigating College Sport Marketing and Fan Engagement
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]With the recent rise in popularity of American collegiate football, organizations ha...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:16:54
Professional Fandom for Semi-Professional Sports - Life of an avid semi-pro sports fan
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Do you think supporting a semi-professional sports team is different than a professional...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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57:24
More than Muscle - A conversation about developing athletes off the field
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in an athletes' daily schedule? I ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:05:58
You Want a Subscription With That? - A conversation about the current landscape in sports media
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Has anyone noticed how the landscape of sports media has changed? It went from a casual ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:04:09
So You Want to Be an Athlete? - A Behind the Scenes Conversation about Life as a Professional Athlete
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Hey everyone! I am gratefully joined by Michael Creek, a goalie for FC Tulsa in the Unit...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:03:56
To Study or Not to Study, Sport is the Question
[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Are you a sport fan and wonder what life behind the scenes is like? I spoke with Brian M...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:08:21
4th and... Australian?: Experiences of an International College Athlete
Hey everyone! Thank you for joining us for Episode 2, "4th and... Australian?".I sat down with Hugh Robertson, a recently graduated athlete from the University of Illinois. Hugh competed as the punter for UIUC's football team from 2020-2...
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1:10:43
Franchise Betrayal? The aftermath of Franchise Relocation in St. Louis
This episode will dive into the experiences of my father and I who were season ticket holding St. Louis Rams fans from 1998-2015. The St. Louis Rams relocated to LA in 2015 and decimated our psychological connection to football, and...
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59:31
